Threads of Tradition sews tachrichim, traditional burial garments, for our community members.
Eighteen years ago a group of Beth David women gathered for the first time to sew Tachrichim, traditional Jewish burial garments. These garments have been provided to Beth David members and their families since 2004. By sewing Tachrichim for our community we are fulfilling the mitzvah of chesed shel emet, “the greatest kindness which cannot be repaid”. The sewing of these garments requires more kavanah than seamstress skill. The intent of the one performing the task and the attention to the importance and meaning of the mitzvah are the most important.
We are looking for folks that want to help, some of the tasks that we need help with are:
- sew, by machine or hand
- iron
- place items in bags
- cut fabric
If you are interested in participating please contact Ricki Gafter at threadsoftradition@beth-david.org.
Why do we sew
It provides us a discrete project that is rich in Jewish content and spiritually meaningful, taking values that are often preached-about and putting them into loving actions with local, direct impact. It is a way of fulfilling the mitzvah of chesed shel emet “the greatest kindness” which cannot be repaid. It’s about affirming people’s humanity and caring for each other. It confirms the value of participation by lay members of the community rather than delegating duties to trained professionals.
The sewing of tachrichim requires more kavanah than seamstress skill. The intent of the one doing the task, the attention to the importance and meaning of the mitzvah, is most important. We are inviting women interested in this mitzvah to join us. If you would like help setting up your tachrichim group please read through the information on the Sewing Groups page. You may view our garment-making instructions on the “Tachrichim” page.
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